When we used to ski here, there was a chairlift that brought skiers to this high ridge overlooking Mt. Rainier. I'll never forget the first time it was clear and I was able to see this stunning view. Today, there was a faint haze in the air from two lighting-caused wildfires: the Jolly Mountain fire near Cle Elum, and the nearby Norse Peak fire, burning just over the ridge near Chinook Pass. Both are zero percent contained.
When we drove up to Sunrise this morning, we could see the smoke tower rising from the Jolly Mountain fire.
And as the gondola rose up the mountain from the ski resort, there was the Norse Peak fire, closer than I imagined.
We walked to the overlook and gazed at the spectacle of Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier, all in one place, gleaming in the afternoon sun. We also spotted Suntop, where a fire lookout still stands. We volunteer for lookout duty at Suntop each summer, and will be back up there the end of the month for another couple of days.
Then we hiked up to the end of the ridge, where a fire lookout once stood. Today it holds radio antennas and satellite communication dishes, discretely tucked behind alpine trees. One of our caching friends hid a geocache at the end of the ridge, and we've wanted to find this one for a while now. Not many caches are hidden at 7000+ feet! And as we turned to scramble back down the loose rocky slope to the lodge, we saw the towering column of smoke that indicates a fresh fire in the Norse Peak complex.
Hot from our scramble up and down the ridge, we wrangled a seat outside on the patio and had a glass of icy cold wine, chatted with a couple who moved here from Ukraine, and watched smoke from the fires blow across the ridges. Then it was time for our dinner, with a window-side table.
We lingered, enjoying our halibut and asparagus, waiting for sunset. Then we took our places along the edge of the patio, watching the sun drop toward the mountains.
Mount Adams
Mount St. Helens (in the distance, hiding in the smoke layer)
Mount Rainier
Last light lingers up here at 7000 feet. As the sun set, the moon was rising.
We waited and watched, until the last gondola cars headed down the mountain at 8:30. As we watched the ridge where the fire was burning, we could see one bright patch of flame. I hope the rains return soon... just rain, no thunderstorms.
What a great experience. Having skied at Crystal Mountain last winter, it was interesting to me to see it without snow. Sadly I heard the Norse Peak fire forced evacuation of this area....Hopefully it stays away from the ski area.
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